Thursday, February 08, 2007

Do You Hear Anything?



The first present I remember receiving was a doctor's kit that my day brought me back from Holland after a three month long business trip. Attached to my dad with a devotion that mostly is reserved for heroin by heroin addicts, my parents decided not to tell me he was leaving. So he slipped out one morning before I woke up. I knew he'd died, but was too afraid to ask. So I spent most of those months in a daze of sorry and anxiety, subsequently developing a stomach ulcer. I'd never been a great eater to start with -- colic as a baby, followed by a propensity for non-political food strikes, i.e. -- I refused anything that wasn't meatloaf or KFC. Hours could pass at the table with nary a bite going into my mouth.

The ulcer made things worse. Hence, the doctor's kit. I loved its sturdy red plastic and especially loved the stethoscope. When my dad gave it to me with a pair of wooden shoes, I looked at him as if the dead had returned! Cried and cried in that way of great relief. My ulcer remained, though, because my fear never left. I'd put the eartips of the stethoscope into my ears , but I didn't care about checking anyone else's hearts. I'd check my own and listen carefully, asking anyone who was around, Do you hear anything strange?, because I couldn't hear a sound, nothing at all.

Michelle's Spell of the Day

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation. I can't take quiet desperation! " The Lost Weekend

Cocktail Hour

Drinking movie suggestion: Big Bad Love

Benedictions and Maledictions

Happy Thursday!

60 Days until The Sopranos airs!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll have the half-hour reverse massage, please, if you know what I mean.

Anonymous said...

We have a stealthoscope just like yours, Michelle!

Anonymous said...

That's a great quote from "The Lost Weekend," with its allusion to Thoreau. It's definitely a drinking movie.

Charles Gramlich said...

A good argument for telling children the truth before they imagine something worse. John D. MacDonald once told a story of a kid who was terrified of the "Twinight Double Headed" monster. Turns out he'd overheard an uncle talking about baseball and a "Twilight Double Header." Another case was the kid who was far more afraid of the "Green Ripper" than the Grim Reaper."

Anonymous said...

Scientists have found that stomach ulcers are caused by bacteria, not by anxiety as is commonly thought.

the walking man said...

Me neither nary a peep from a stethoscope since the ex took those kids away from me, I guess I cared less, because I wasn't a child, and had to learn to live with that; which is why I would be more than happy on this day to give rodney dangerfield a five hour reverse massage, his blood for lotion and his entrails for that finishing off soft warm touch if you know what I mean.

I am simply pleased to be not like most men. Staying quiet in the face of desperation is a fools game. A quick bullet would be faster and better end than a death in a hospital bed at 99 years old

Anonymous said...

Use massage mitten while bathing in Fox Creek. So soothing.

Anonymous said...

Try our couples massage for Valentine's Day. Each room comes equipped with a shower for your massage pleasure!

Anonymous said...

Speaking on behalf of the Sopranos, Michelle, we want you to know that we really appreciate your support as one of our best fans. We read and appreciate not only your Spells and poetry, short stories and (we hear)forthcoming novella, but also your wonderful comments throughout the blogosphere. On behalf of the cast and crew of the Sopranos, we wish you a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Cheri said...

I'd have died if one of my parents went away for 3 months when I was a kid! So I think that you did pretty good considering.

Anonymous said...

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ZZZZZZZ said...

How awful it must have been to not know about your dad for 3 months! I don't think I would be able to handle it. Glad he came back to you all safe with a present in tow!

Bird on a Wire said...

Oh my, you poor dear.

I'm sorry about the ulcer, but I couldn't help cracking up a this. What an excellent post.

JR's Thumbprints said...

For some reason I'm hearing the Cowboy Junkies song, "To Live Is To Fly," during a moment of quiet desperation.

Anonymous said...

True.

Anonymous said...

Looks like another Anna Nicole?? Whatever.

Anonymous said...

Michelle, I love this piece and your dress. You're amazing. Hope you're doing well!! -Jill

Anonymous said...

You call what she's wearing a "dress"? Please.